The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-22
FROM THE CAPITOL.
+, Legislation uppermost In the
Legislative Mind.
A New and More Sweeping Ten Hour
Bill Introduced.
Col. Dow's Bill for Purifying the
Caucus.
A Movement for Annual Sessions of
the Legislature.
Especial to the Press.l

Especial TO the Press.l
AUGUSTA, Jan. 21.
The 10 hour bill is the measure which at
tracts the most attention still, although the
hearing does not come until a week from to-
day. Yesterday Agent Green, of the Cabot
Mills, of Brunswick was before the commit
tee on labor and conferred with them at
some length. There are three respects in
which he wants Mr.. Looney's bill modified.
BE would have the age below which no child
is tobe employed reduced from II to years.
The provision that child must have gone
to school for four months in the year pre-
ceding his hiring Mr.. Green would have take
effect in year from the passage Of the act
because should it take effect at once he
thinks it would drive all children out of the
mills for year. He also thinks that the
law should not apply to the children of
year; because when the families first come
here they have to learn the work and, not
getting much wages, need the labor of the
children while getting settled With these
exceptions, Mr.. Green urges no objections to
the bill. The managers of the Warren Mills
at Westbr00k have written Mr.. Looney that
they favor his bill; and SO has the agent Of
the large wooden mills in North Vassalboro
The laDoring men as well as the manufac-
lures favor the bill if the attitude of their
representatives in House and Senate indi-
cafes anything. Senator Gushee likes it and
VIII support it; so does Representative Eels,
the only man in the House elected as a labor
candidate. All the labor committee are
favorable, and they expect that their unan-
a send off that it will go all right Yet there
is in certain elements of the House much
talk against the bill. 1t is urged that it is
unconstitutional to pass a law that will
prevent women contracting to work as many
hours as they please; and there is some talk
that the clause preventing minors under IS
years working more than 10 hours will oper-
ate to the disadvantage of the saw mills,
where many minors are employed. But it
seems hardly probable that those who do not
like the bill will make any determined OPP
harmful amendments. The fact is, a good
many men who might be disposed to oppose
the measure gave before election written
pledges to the Knights of Labor that they
would support ten-hour law; and the
pledges, had the pledges printed and have
sent copies for the members to carry in their
pockets.
But there seems to be in the Legislature
an honest sentiment in favor of the bill
which will undoubtedly carry it through.
ments there is much opposition expressed.
Agent Green, of the Cabot Mill, favors
f0rtnlgltly wages, rather, because weekly
wages w0nld make expenses for extra clerk
hire. Among the members of the Legislature
there is much hostility expressed to the meas
ure and its friends do not seem very active.
A Day for the Temperance People.
Today has been the day for temperance
bills. One was introduced in the House and
two in the Senate. Several well known
workers in the temperance cause were
present, either from design, or remarkable
accident. There were Mrs. L. NJ. N. Stew
ems. Dr. Bashford and Mrs. Bashford, Mrs.
Weymouth, and Secretary Bracket. The
bills introduced in the Senate were the so
called 'cider bill" which has already been
published, and bill to prevent the furnish
ing Of liquor to minors. The intention OF
the bill is that mo agent of any city or town
or other person shall furnish, sell, give
away, etc, any liquors to any minor under
the age of q years under penalty of a fine of
at least 500 and Imprisonment of at least 30
days The bill provides that the child may
get the liquor on presenting an order from
his parent or any person who may legally
buy OF the agency, but prescribes rigid pen
alties for forging of such orders, and for
other evasions of the law. The aim of this
bill is at the agencies The bill introduced
in the House is a very long one, and the good
Templars are behind it, as they are of the
other two.
a New Ten Hour Bill.
Another ten hour bill was presented today
in the Senate by Senator Weymouth of Dork
county. The bill is after the general plan of
the Looney bill, but differs from it In many
vital particulars. The first clause of Mr..
Looneys bill is: ''No minor under eighteen
years of age and no woman" shall be en-
ployed to mechanical and manufacturing es-
adjustments over ten hours day. Mr.. Wey-
mouths bill says: mo persons, except fire
men, watchmaen and engineers" shall be
employed, etc. This would bring men as
well as children and women under the pro-
visions of the bill. Mr.. Looneys bill sets II
years as the limit under which no children
are to labor; Mr.. Weymouth makes the limit
10 years and says nothing about four months
OF schooling year: Mr.. Looney would have
the commits sioner of labor appointed by the
governor at salary of $1,000 year; Mr..
Weymouth would have him elected by the
people in special election held within 80
days OF the passage of the act, and would
flx his salary at $500 year.. Looney's com
would not. although Weymouth's would
have power to summon witnesses and pay
them, $1.50 day and expenses. In Wey-
mouths bill fines would go, half to the State
and half to the complainant Looney's bill
puts responsibility on parents and guardi-
ans for caring for the laws enforcement in
case of their own children; Weymouths S
does not except that they are to furnish GER
tifcates of age which shall be conclusive
and save the hirer from prosecution in case
the age is below the legal limit.
The Caucus Bill.
Mr. Dow's bill to maintain the purity of
the caucus was introduced this morning and
referred to the judiciary committee. The
bill provides that whoever, by rude or inde-
cent behavior disturbs primary or caucus,
shall be imprisoned for not more than 80
days or by fine of not less than $5 nor more
than $40. Whoever, not being voter in the
city, town or ward in which the caucus is
assembled, or whoever being such a
voter but not included in the description of
those persons invited in the call for the eau
Gus, or whoever shall vote more than once at
caucus ON any one question, shall be pun
ished by imprisonment for not more than 80
days, or by fine of not less than s. nor
more than So An officer of a caucus who
wilfully allows illegal voting, or who wilful-
lly ocbstrncts legal voting as specified in this
bill, shall be imprisoned for not more than
80 days, or gned. Whenever person is
challenged for reasonable cause, by three or
more persons, the question Of his right to
vote shall be determined by the vote of the
rest of the caucus.
Annual Sessions.